An Angels Landing permit is required for every hiker going past Scout Lookout onto the chained half-mile ridge in Zion National Park, every day and at every hour. As of November 2026, permits are issued only through Recreation.gov lotteries: seasonal in advance or day-before from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT.
The rules are simple. Getting the permit is the tricky part. Angels Landing is one of Zion’s most famous hikes, and the park uses a lottery to spread demand across dates and start times instead of letting a crowd jam the chains all at once. If you plan to step beyond Scout Lookout, you need to understand the system before you book your trip.
This guide sticks to the official rules from the National Park Service and Recreation.gov, verified as of November 2026. Before your hike, check Zion’s official Angels Landing permits page and the Angels Landing Recreation.gov permit page, because closures, trail work, shuttle schedules, and permit details can change.
Do you need a permit to hike Angels Landing?
Yes, you need a permit to hike any portion of Angels Landing from Scout Lookout to the summit.
The permit zone begins at Scout Lookout, where the West Rim Trail meets the chained Angels Landing ridge. You do not need a permit to hike from the Grotto trailhead to Scout Lookout, and you do not need one to continue on the West Rim Trail away from Angels Landing. The permit applies to the exposed chain section only.
As of November 2026, the National Park Service says permits are required 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. Rangers may check your permit at the Grotto, at Scout Lookout, or along the trail. Your confirmation email from Recreation.gov serves as the permit, and you may also need to show photo identification.
The park began requiring permits for hikers continuing beyond Scout Lookout on April 1, 2022. The reason is not mystery or red tape. The last half-mile [0.8 km] of the route is narrow, exposed, and two-way, with chains fixed into the sandstone for support. Zion uses the system to reduce congestion on that ridge.
How do you get an Angels Landing permit?
You get an Angels Landing permit by entering either the seasonal lottery or the day-before lottery on Recreation.gov.
There is no walk-up desk for Angels Landing permits in Zion National Park. You cannot show up at the visitor center, ask nicely, and get one printed. As of November 2026, Recreation.gov is the only public place to apply.
- Go to the official Angels Landing permit listing on Recreation.gov.
- Choose the correct season for your hike date.
- Select the seasonal lottery or the day-before lottery.
- Enter the permit holder’s name exactly as it appears on photo ID.
- Add your group size, up to six people including the applicant.
- For the seasonal lottery, rank up to seven dates and times or date-and-time windows.
- Submit the application and pay the nonrefundable application fee.
- If selected, print or download the confirmation email before you reach Zion Canyon.
The permit holder or the listed alternate must be with the group at the checkpoint. The whole hiking party must be present together to proceed. Permits are not transferable, so do not buy one from a stranger, do not sell one, and do not assume a friend can use yours without you.
How does the Angels Landing lottery work?
The lottery gives applicants a chance at specific hike dates and start times instead of issuing permits first-come, first-served.
There are two lottery paths. The seasonal lottery is for planners. It opens months ahead of the hiking season and lets you list up to seven choices. Recreation.gov uses a ranked-choice system, so your first pick matters, but your backup dates matter too.
The day-before lottery is for last-minute plans, missed seasonal permits, canceled trips, and flexible travelers already near Zion. It opens daily at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time and closes at 3 p.m. Mountain Time for hikes the next day. Results are sent after 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
| Lottery type | Best for | Timing | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal lottery | Trips planned months ahead | Quarterly application windows | You may reduce group size or cancel for a recreation-fee refund up to two days before the permit date |
| Day-before lottery | Flexible hikers already near Zion | 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT the day before hiking | No changes; fees are nonrefundable |
For both lotteries, applying earlier inside the open window does not improve your odds. An application submitted at 12:10 a.m. has the same timing advantage as one submitted at 2:50 p.m., as long as both are inside the official window.
When should you apply for the Angels Landing lottery?
Apply in the seasonal lottery if your Zion dates are fixed, and use the day-before lottery if you missed that window or want another shot.
As of November 2026, Zion lists these seasonal application windows for Angels Landing permits:
| Hike dates | Lottery opens | Lottery closes | Permits issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1 to May 31 | January 1 at 8 a.m. MT | January 20 at 11:59 p.m. MT | January 25 |
| June 1 to August 31 | April 1 at 8 a.m. MT | April 20 at 11:59 p.m. MT | April 25 |
| September 1 to November 30 | July 1 at 8 a.m. MT | July 20 at 11:59 p.m. MT | July 25 |
| December 1 to February 28 | October 1 at 8 a.m. MT | October 20 at 11:59 p.m. MT | October 25 |
If you want to hike on a Tuesday and you are using the day-before lottery, apply on Monday between 12:01 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mountain Time. Results come after 4 p.m. that same Monday. If you win, your confirmation email is your permit for Tuesday.
Build slack into your trip if Angels Landing is a priority. A three-day Zion stay gives you more chances than a single afternoon squeezed between a shuttle ride and dinner. The lottery still may say no. That is part of the deal.
How much does an Angels Landing permit cost?
As of November 2026, the application fee is $6, and successful applicants are charged $3 per person for the issued permit.
The $6 application fee covers an application for up to six people, including the person applying. It is nonrefundable. If Recreation.gov issues a permit, the same payment card is automatically charged the $3 per-person recreation fee.
That permit fee is separate from the Zion National Park entrance fee. If you already have a valid federal recreation pass, that may cover park entry, but it does not replace the Angels Landing permit. A park pass gets you into Zion. A permit gets you past Scout Lookout onto the chains.
If the payment for a selected permit does not clear, Recreation.gov may not issue the permit. Use a card that will work, and watch your email after lottery results go out.
What start time should you choose?
Choose the earliest realistic start time you can make without rushing, missing the shuttle, or hiking unprepared.
Your listed start time begins at the Grotto trailhead, Shuttle Stop 6, not at Scout Lookout and not at the start of the chains. Zion says the full Angels Landing hike is 5.4 miles [8.7 km] round trip with 1,488 feet [454 m] of elevation gain, and most hikers take 4 hours or longer. The chained Angels Landing section itself is the final half-mile [0.8 km] beyond Scout Lookout.
Morning starts usually mean cooler sandstone and more daylight margin. Afternoon starts can work, but they leave less room for delays, heat, thunderstorms, winter ice, missed shuttles, or slow travel on the chains. Do not choose a time that forces you to move faster than your footing allows.
Before you commit to a time slot, check Zion’s official shuttle schedule. During shuttle season, private vehicles generally do not drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the Grotto. During short periods when the shuttle is not running, hikers drive themselves to the trailhead if parking is available.
What do you need to bring with your permit?
Bring your permit confirmation, photo ID, water, food, layers, grippy footwear, and enough light to finish after dark if the hike runs long.
Do not rely on cell service to pull up your email at the checkpoint. Zion warns that mobile service is unreliable in the canyon. Download the confirmation email before you arrive, screenshot it, or print it. Low battery is not a permit strategy.
- Downloaded or printed Recreation.gov confirmation email
- Photo ID for the permit holder or listed alternate
- Water; Zion recommends each person drink 1 gallon [4 liters] per day in the park
- Food or salty snacks
- Broken-in hiking shoes or boots with strong traction
- Sun protection
- Warm layers in cool months
- Headlamp or flashlight with fresh batteries
- Small first-aid kit
- Map, either paper or downloaded offline
Water is available at the Grotto, but Zion says there is no drinkable water on the trail beyond that point. Fill up before you climb. The trail gains elevation fast, and the sandstone reflects heat hard when the sun hits the canyon.
What happens if you hike Angels Landing without a permit?
Hiking the permitted Angels Landing section without a permit is a federal violation.
As of November 2026, Recreation.gov states that hiking Angels Landing without a required permit violates 36 CFR 1.6 and is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. That is the ceiling, not a promise of what every case will bring. Still. Do not treat the checkpoint like a suggestion.
Rangers can ask to see your permit and ID at any point along the route. The permit holder or alternate must be present with the group. If the person named on the permit is not there, the group should not expect to continue.
Can you change, cancel, or transfer an Angels Landing permit?
You cannot transfer an Angels Landing permit, and change rules depend on which lottery issued it.
For seasonal lottery permits, you may cancel up to two days before the permit reservation date and receive a refund of the $3 per-person recreation fee. The $6 application fee is not refunded. You may also reduce your group size up to two days before the permit date and receive a refund for the removed people’s recreation fees.
You cannot increase the group size, change the date, change the permit holder, or change the alternate. Day-before lottery permits are stricter: no changes are allowed, and all fees are nonrefundable.
What if you do not get an Angels Landing permit?
If you do not get a permit, hike to Scout Lookout or choose another Zion trail instead.
Scout Lookout is still a real hike. From the Grotto, it is 2.25 miles [3.62 km] one way on the West Rim Trail, with 1,000 feet [305 m] of climbing. You get canyon views, Walter’s Wiggles, and a close look at the Angels Landing ridge without stepping onto the permitted chain section.
If you want to keep moving, continue up the West Rim Trail where allowed and conditions permit. You do not need an Angels Landing permit for the West Rim Trail itself. You do need good judgment. Check Zion’s current conditions page before choosing any route, especially after storms, during icy weather, or when trail work is posted.
Other Zion hikes may fit your day better if the lottery does not land your way. The park has canyon walks, overlooks, and tougher routes that do not require this specific permit. Do not poach the chain section. The view is not worth a citation, a forced turnaround, or crowding other hikers on exposed rock.
How should you plan for the chains?
Plan for slow, exposed, two-way travel where patience matters as much as fitness.
The chain section is not a casual overlook path. It is narrow in places, with steep drop-offs and traffic moving both directions. You may need to stop and wait for people coming the other way. You may need to pass only where the rock gives both parties enough room.
Do not start up the chains if storm clouds are building, the rock is wet or icy, darkness is closing in, or you have a serious fear of heights. Zion specifically warns that the rock becomes very slick when wet and that most accidents on the chains occur in wet conditions. Winter adds another bite: the metal chains can be very cold, and traction devices may be useful when snow or ice is present.
Simple trail manners help everyone:
- Keep one hand free for the chain where the chain is available.
- Let faster hikers pass only where it is safe.
- Give uphill and downhill hikers room to communicate.
- Do not leave the established route.
- Do not knock rocks loose or throw anything over the edge.
- Pack out every piece of trash.
A permit gives you permission to enter the route. It does not guarantee the trail will be open, the weather will cooperate, the shuttle will fit your plan, or the hike will feel right when you reach Scout Lookout. If conditions look wrong, turn around. The permit is not a dare.
Related reading
- Angels Landing Hike: Distance, Time and Permit Guide
- Yosemite Wilderness Permits: How to Get One
- Grand Canyon Backcountry Permits Explained
- Mount Whitney Permit Lottery Explained
FAQ
Do all hikers in my group need an Angels Landing permit?
Yes. Every person going past Scout Lookout toward Angels Landing must be covered by the permit. As of November 2026, one application can list up to six people including the applicant.
Can I get an Angels Landing permit in person at Zion?
No. As of November 2026, Angels Landing permits are available only through online lotteries on Recreation.gov. They are not issued at any Zion National Park office.
Does an Angels Landing permit include the Zion shuttle?
No. The permit allows access to the permitted Angels Landing chain section, but it does not reserve shuttle space or change shuttle rules. Check the current shuttle schedule before choosing a start time.
Do I need a permit to hike to Scout Lookout?
No. You can hike from the Grotto to Scout Lookout on the West Rim Trail without an Angels Landing permit. You need the permit only if you continue past Scout Lookout onto the chained ridge toward Angels Landing.
What happens if the trail closes after I get a permit?
Your permit is an opportunity, not a guarantee. Zion may close the trail for weather, rockfall, maintenance, or other conditions, so check current park alerts before you go and be ready to change plans.
Can someone else use my Angels Landing permit?
No. Angels Landing permits are not transferable. The permit holder or listed alternate must be present with photo ID and the entire hiking group at the checkpoint.